Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

She shifted her gaze away from his.

“I’ll rephrase. Did you have breakfast this morning?”

She might not want to look at him, but his body prevented her from closing the car door. If she wanted a battle of wills, he felt certain he’d win.

“No,” she said at last.

“Mind if I ask why?”

“Mind if I ask why you care?” she shot back.

He couldn’t help but grin. Even sick she had spunk. “Because I’m not about to let you drive off while you’re feeling dizzy. Come back inside and I’ll get you something to eat.”

“That’s nice of you, but no thanks. I have a breakfast bar in my bag.” She riffled through her purse and held one up in triumph. “See?”

He nodded. “Good. Why didn’t you eat it before you came over?”

“I wasn’t feeling great when I woke up. Look, I’m going to be late for work. I have to go.”

“Not until you eat and I know you won’t pass out or swerve off the road.”

She rolled her eyes, then peeled down the wrapper and took a bite. He watched her jaw work as she chewed, knowing he was making her uncomfortable and unable to stop staring anyway.

“You look tired. Are you sure you’re getting enough sleep?”

She choked on a piece of her food. “What is with the third degree this morning?”

He didn’t have a clue. He just knew something was off about her and he was concerned. Unlike him? Yeah. He didn’t need another woman to worry about letting down, like he had Victoria, Vincent Maroni’s wife.

Shaking his last case away, he focused on Erin as she finished the breakfast bar, then pulled out a bottle of water and drank a healthy amount. “There. I feel all better.”

He didn’t feel better, nor did he believe her, but whatever. “Good. Do you feel well enough to drive?”

She nodded. “Yes. Thank you,” she said, eyeing him as if trying to see beneath his skin.

She wouldn’t find much there; that he knew.

“Okay then. Take care.” He patted the top of the car with his hand.

“You too.” She paused. “Umm, Cole? Don’t pay any attention to your father. He’s just grumpy because of his arm.”

“No he’s not. He’s Jed, expressing his low opinion of me, same as always.” The minute the honest words escaped he could have bitten his tongue, mostly because he didn’t want her pity.

But a glance at her narrowed eyes and tight expression showed anger, not sympathy. “He’s wrong, then.”

She wasn’t defending Jed; she was sticking up for him. Warmth flooded his chest, but he ruthlessly squashed the good, clean feeling he wasn’t used to experiencing. He didn’t need her on his side any more than he wanted her to like him. He couldn’t do anything but hurt her sweet-girl reputation. He couldn’t do anything but hurt her.

“Go to work,” he said gruffly, ignoring the flash of disappointment in her eyes at his response.

And though he wanted to keep her at arm’s length, actually accomplishing his goal didn’t make him feel like he’d done her the favor he’d intended.

After finishing up the porch and fixing a drawer in the kitchen he had noticed was falling off the hinge, Cole decided enough was enough. If he was going to live in this town, he needed more than his own company and the occasional conversation with someone on Nick’s crew. Though he didn’t know what kind of welcome he’d receive, Cole headed out to the police station for a visit with Mike Marsden.

He’d avoided this particular reunion because, like Jed, Mike, the current Serendipity chief of police, knew about Cole’s past, old and more recent. And though Mike had done his share of undercover work, he hadn’t ever been as deep as Cole. But he’d understand enough to empathize—and Cole hadn’t wanted to discuss the last year in his life. But after his run-in with Jed, Cole needed a reality check and, if he was honest with himself, a friend. Even if that friend was Erin’s brother.

• • •

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. If Erin’s head wasn’t already pounding, she’d smack it against the car window for good measure.